Palm Beach Atlantic University
Encyclopedia
Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a comprehensive nondenominational (26 denominations represented in the student body) faith-based university
with a core emphasis on character formation by integrating a Christian worldview with the liberal arts and selected professional studies. It is located in West Palm Beach, Florida
approximately one mile (1.6 km) from the Atlantic Ocean
on the Intracoastal Waterway
. Its purpose is to offer a curriculum of rigorous studies and a program of student activities dedicated to the development of lifetime learning, leadership and service to mankind. The mean SAT
is 1150. The student to faculty ratio is 15:1 with 161 faculty and 134 adjunct faculty. In the process of finding a new president for the university, vice president of Development, William “Bill” M. B. Fleming, Jr. has been placed in the role of interim president.
In July 1972, Dr. Warner E. Fusselle, previously President of Truett-McConnell College
, became the second President of the university and led the accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
which was achieved in December 1972.
Dr. George Borders, Vice President of Student Affairs at Stetson University
, became the third President of Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1978. He was popular with students and the Florida Baptist Convention. After his resignation in 1981 to become the President of the Florida Baptist Foundation, Dr. Claude H. Rhea became president.
Dr. Rhea's leadership saw the development of the Rinker campus and expansion of academic programs. On a business trip to Paris, Dr. Rhea collapsed and died in the Paris-Orly Airport.
Dr. Paul R. Corts, previously president of Wingate College
, became the fifth President of Palm Beach Atlantic. He presided over the addition of two graduate programs, from 1991 until 2002. He resigned in 2002 to accept a position as Assistant Attorney General for Administration with the United States Department of Justice
.
Dr. David W. Clark, President of FamilyNet
, and founding provost of Regent University
became the sixth President in 2003. During his presidency enrollment grew from 2600 to 3291. Five new buildings were completed including the magnificent Warren Library, a mini campus in Wellington was built, and 96 acres (388,498.6 m²) for a new athletic campus were acquired. The university budget grew from $43 million to $73 million. Over 4,600 or 40 percent of all degrees were awarded during his tenure. President Clark announced his retirement during the 2008-9 academic year the end of June.
On June 30, 2009, Lu Hardin was announced as the seventh president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. An educator who became a state senator, Hardin, 57, was the former president of the University of Central Arkansas
(UCA). During his six-year tenure, enrollment at UCA increased from 8,000 to 13,000 and the average incoming student ACT score rose from 22.1 to 23.5. Graduation rates increased from 47 to 55.4 percent. Hardin championed the UCA athletic program’s successful bid to obtain National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I status. The PBA board of trustees accepted his resignation effective March 4, 2011. On March 7, 2011 Lu Hardin pleaded guilty in federal court in Little Rock, AR to two federal felony charges (wire fraud and money laundering) which occurred during his tenure at UCA.
On March 10, 2011, Robert Simpson, chairman of Palm Beach Atlantic University's board of trustees, announced William “Bill” M. B. Fleming, Jr. as interim president. Fleming, 59, is well known in Florida and in higher education circles nationwide. He joined Palm Beach Atlantic in 1992, and serves as the University's chief institutional advancement officer. Previously he served in several administrative roles at Wingate University and Guilford College, both in North Carolina. As vice president of development, Fleming serves as the University’s chief institutional advancement officer. Since his arrival on campus, more than $114 million has been raised in support of annual, endowment and capital projects at PBA. Under his leadership, PBA actively seeks partnerships with the business, professional and nonprofit sectors.
PBA's campus is located in West Palm Beach. The first structure built specifically for PBA, the W.G. Lassiter Jr. Student Center, was completed in 1982. This was followed by Johnson Hall and Sachs Hall in 1989. A new campus was established in Orlando in 2002 and in Wellington in 2007.
Residence halls include Oceanview (ODP), Rinker Hall, Baxter Hall, Johnson Hall, Weyenberg Hall, Flagler Towers, Lakeview Apartments, and Mango Apartments.
Classroom buildings include the Vera Lea Rinker School of Music and Fine Arts, the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, Borbe Hall, MacArthur Hall, Rinker Hall, and the Okeechobee Building.
A continuous building program has characterized the last decade of growth at Palm Beach Atlantic University. In January 2007 the first phase of the state-of-the-art 62000 sq ft (5,760 m²). Warren Library was dedicated. The second phase was completed in December of 2009 and is a total of86 sq ft (8 m²). The building is named after Dr. Donald Warren, who served as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees for 38 years. The university has extension campuses in Orlando and Wellington offering adult and graduate degrees.
A new campus with outdoor athletic fields and a new athletic exercise and administration building will be constructed. Located at the former historic Hillcrest neighborhood less than two miles (3 km) from campus, the 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) campus will be completed in 2010. The University purchased the parcel, located between I-95 and Parker Avenue just north of Southern Boulevard, for $3.1 million from Palm Beach County.
is held four times weekly in the DeSantis Family Chapel, Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m., as well as other times, dates and locations that are listed on the chapel calendar.
Chapel is a requirement for all full-time students, both undergraduate and graduate, who attend class during the daytime. Students must attend 24 chapels per year.
Workship is a distinctive community service
program that has been at the heart of PBA since its founding in 1968. Workship combines "work" with "worship," serving God through serving the community. All full-time undergraduate students are required to serve 45 hours per year. Students may choose from PBA-sponsored group service events, or may serve individually at an non profit organization, church or school of their choice. Since the school was founded in 1968, 2 million hours of student community service have been given by the students and faculty.
Mission Trips are created yearly for students. Mission teams travel to countries all over the world and minister through performing arts, street ministries, construction, medical outreach, sports workshops and more. The teams travel during the summer on a multi-week trip and on a one-week Spring Break trip.
The University offers more than 60 majors but is best known for producing outstanding graduates in business, education, media communication, theater, music, ministry and counseling.
The Gregory School of Pharmacy offers the Pharm.D. in pharmacy. It is one of five pharmacy schools in Florida.
, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
Membership is maintained in many organizations including:
Division II and an independent member of the NCCAA
. Lacrosse competes as a Division II member of the MCLA
in the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference
. Presently, the "Sailfish" compete in eleven intercollegiate sports including women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's cross country. School colors are navy blue and white. A new athletic campus will have soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball and running trails as well as a new state of the art weight and training room. A new 34000 sq ft (3,158.7 m²) building will be constructed along with various other buildings.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
with a core emphasis on character formation by integrating a Christian worldview with the liberal arts and selected professional studies. It is located in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
approximately one mile (1.6 km) from the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
on the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
. Its purpose is to offer a curriculum of rigorous studies and a program of student activities dedicated to the development of lifetime learning, leadership and service to mankind. The mean SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
is 1150. The student to faculty ratio is 15:1 with 161 faculty and 134 adjunct faculty. In the process of finding a new president for the university, vice president of Development, William “Bill” M. B. Fleming, Jr. has been placed in the role of interim president.
History
Palm Beach Atlantic University was the vision of and was founded by Dr. Jess C. Moody in 1968 while he was the pastor of First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach. He served until the first class graduated in 1972 and resigned from the presidency to focus on his duties at First Baptist Church. Two laymen of the church, Dr. Donald Warren and Riley Sims, became involved as trustees before the university began and continued to contribute time and support for many years. Dr. Warren served as chairman of the trustees for 38 years until 2007.In July 1972, Dr. Warner E. Fusselle, previously President of Truett-McConnell College
Truett-McConnell College
Truett-McConnell College is a private, Christian, coeducational liberal arts college in Cleveland, Georgia, United States. It is operated under the auspices of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and controlled by a Board of Trustees elected by the Convention. The college was named to honor George W....
, became the second President of the university and led the accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
which was achieved in December 1972.
Dr. George Borders, Vice President of Student Affairs at Stetson University
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S...
, became the third President of Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1978. He was popular with students and the Florida Baptist Convention. After his resignation in 1981 to become the President of the Florida Baptist Foundation, Dr. Claude H. Rhea became president.
Dr. Rhea's leadership saw the development of the Rinker campus and expansion of academic programs. On a business trip to Paris, Dr. Rhea collapsed and died in the Paris-Orly Airport.
Dr. Paul R. Corts, previously president of Wingate College
Wingate University
Wingate University was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University....
, became the fifth President of Palm Beach Atlantic. He presided over the addition of two graduate programs, from 1991 until 2002. He resigned in 2002 to accept a position as Assistant Attorney General for Administration with the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
.
Dr. David W. Clark, President of FamilyNet
FamilyNet
FamilyNet is a broadcast television network owned by ComStar Media Fund and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell. The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in...
, and founding provost of Regent University
Regent University
Regent University is a private coeducational interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school was founded by the American televangelist Pat Robertson in 1978 as Christian Broadcasting Network University. A satellite campus located in...
became the sixth President in 2003. During his presidency enrollment grew from 2600 to 3291. Five new buildings were completed including the magnificent Warren Library, a mini campus in Wellington was built, and 96 acres (388,498.6 m²) for a new athletic campus were acquired. The university budget grew from $43 million to $73 million. Over 4,600 or 40 percent of all degrees were awarded during his tenure. President Clark announced his retirement during the 2008-9 academic year the end of June.
On June 30, 2009, Lu Hardin was announced as the seventh president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. An educator who became a state senator, Hardin, 57, was the former president of the University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
(UCA). During his six-year tenure, enrollment at UCA increased from 8,000 to 13,000 and the average incoming student ACT score rose from 22.1 to 23.5. Graduation rates increased from 47 to 55.4 percent. Hardin championed the UCA athletic program’s successful bid to obtain National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I status. The PBA board of trustees accepted his resignation effective March 4, 2011. On March 7, 2011 Lu Hardin pleaded guilty in federal court in Little Rock, AR to two federal felony charges (wire fraud and money laundering) which occurred during his tenure at UCA.
On March 10, 2011, Robert Simpson, chairman of Palm Beach Atlantic University's board of trustees, announced William “Bill” M. B. Fleming, Jr. as interim president. Fleming, 59, is well known in Florida and in higher education circles nationwide. He joined Palm Beach Atlantic in 1992, and serves as the University's chief institutional advancement officer. Previously he served in several administrative roles at Wingate University and Guilford College, both in North Carolina. As vice president of development, Fleming serves as the University’s chief institutional advancement officer. Since his arrival on campus, more than $114 million has been raised in support of annual, endowment and capital projects at PBA. Under his leadership, PBA actively seeks partnerships with the business, professional and nonprofit sectors.
Campus
Residence halls include Oceanview (ODP), Rinker Hall, Baxter Hall, Johnson Hall, Weyenberg Hall, Flagler Towers, Lakeview Apartments, and Mango Apartments.
Classroom buildings include the Vera Lea Rinker School of Music and Fine Arts, the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, Borbe Hall, MacArthur Hall, Rinker Hall, and the Okeechobee Building.
A continuous building program has characterized the last decade of growth at Palm Beach Atlantic University. In January 2007 the first phase of the state-of-the-art 62000 sq ft (5,760 m²). Warren Library was dedicated. The second phase was completed in December of 2009 and is a total of86 sq ft (8 m²). The building is named after Dr. Donald Warren, who served as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees for 38 years. The university has extension campuses in Orlando and Wellington offering adult and graduate degrees.
A new campus with outdoor athletic fields and a new athletic exercise and administration building will be constructed. Located at the former historic Hillcrest neighborhood less than two miles (3 km) from campus, the 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) campus will be completed in 2010. The University purchased the parcel, located between I-95 and Parker Avenue just north of Southern Boulevard, for $3.1 million from Palm Beach County.
Ministry Life
ChapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
is held four times weekly in the DeSantis Family Chapel, Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m., as well as other times, dates and locations that are listed on the chapel calendar.
Chapel is a requirement for all full-time students, both undergraduate and graduate, who attend class during the daytime. Students must attend 24 chapels per year.
Workship is a distinctive community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
program that has been at the heart of PBA since its founding in 1968. Workship combines "work" with "worship," serving God through serving the community. All full-time undergraduate students are required to serve 45 hours per year. Students may choose from PBA-sponsored group service events, or may serve individually at an non profit organization, church or school of their choice. Since the school was founded in 1968, 2 million hours of student community service have been given by the students and faculty.
Mission Trips are created yearly for students. Mission teams travel to countries all over the world and minister through performing arts, street ministries, construction, medical outreach, sports workshops and more. The teams travel during the summer on a multi-week trip and on a one-week Spring Break trip.
National rankings
- Palm Beach Atlantic achieved the status of 43rd in the Tier One Top 60 category of "Universities-Master's (South)" by US News & World Report
- The Princeton Review ranked PBAU One of the Best Southeast Colleges in 2008.
- Listed in "100 Best Buy Colleges" in the United States for 2007. One of only 4 in Florida.
- Listed by the Templeton Foundation as a College That Encourages Character.
Available degrees
The University is organized into nine academic schools: Arts & Sciences, Communication & Media, Education & Behavioral Studies, Gregory School of Pharmacy, MacArthur School of Leadership, Ministry, Music & Fine Arts, Nursing, and Rinker School of Business.The University offers more than 60 majors but is best known for producing outstanding graduates in business, education, media communication, theater, music, ministry and counseling.
The Gregory School of Pharmacy offers the Pharm.D. in pharmacy. It is one of five pharmacy schools in Florida.
Accreditation & memberships
Palm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for the Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
Membership is maintained in many organizations including:
- Independent Colleges and Universities of FloridaIndependent Colleges and Universities of FloridaThe Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida is an association of 28 private, educational institutions in the state of Florida. Like the 11 public colleges and universities in Florida, all ICUF schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The current President...
- Florida Council for Teacher Education
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy EducationAccreditation Council for Pharmacy EducationAccreditation Council for Pharmacy Education is a non-profit accreditation agency recognized by Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the US Department of Education...
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing EducationCommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationThe Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
- National Association of College Admissions Personnel
- Council of Independent CollegesCouncil of Independent CollegesThe Council of Independent Colleges is an association of nearly 600 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and more than 70 higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance...
- Association on Higher Education and Disability
- Council for Christian Colleges and UniversitiesCouncil for Christian Colleges and UniversitiesThe Council for Christian Colleges and Universities is an organization designed to help primarily Protestant and evangelical Christian institutions of higher education cooperate and communicate with one another...
Notable alumni
- Tenth Avenue NorthTenth Avenue NorthTenth Avenue North is an American contemporary Christian music band from West Palm Beach, Florida. They took their name from a major east-west road in Palm Beach County.The group was formed while attending Palm Beach Atlantic University...
- Contemporary Christian Music Band - Sierra MinottSierra MinottSierra Minott is a beauty queen from Fort Myers, Florida who was crowned Miss Florida 2008. She previously held the title of Miss Palm Beach County 2008, and received preliminary swimsuit and evening gown awards at Miss Florida, making her the second Miss Florida to be a double preliminary winner...
- Miss FloridaMiss FloridaThe Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.-Winners:* Assumed the crown after Miss Florida won Miss America...
2008 - Victoria JacksonVictoria JacksonVictoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
- Actress and former Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
cast member - Susan SherouseSusan SherouseSusan Sherouse is an American violinist from Lakeland, Florida. She attended the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, from which she graduated in 2001. She would then continue her education at Palm Beach Atlantic University...
- AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist - Priscilla TaylorPriscilla Taylor (politician)Priscilla Taylor is a West Palm Beach, Florida businesswoman and Democratic politician who serves as Palm Beach county commissioner for District 7....
- Current member of the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida House of RepresentativesThe Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at... - Martin David KiarMartin David KiarMartin David Kiar is a Davie, Florida attorney and Democratic politician who serves as the representative for District 97 of the Florida House of Representatives. He was first elected to the Florida House in 2006, and was reelected in 2008....
- Current member of the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida House of RepresentativesThe Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at... - Lizbeth Benacquisto - Current member of the Florida SenateFlorida SenateThe Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
- Edward Trask - Executive vice president of TourneauTourneauTourneau, Inc., is a watch retailer established in 1900 and based in the United States. Selling from inexpensive brands such as Citizen and Swatch all the way to top brands including Rolex and Patek Philippe & Co., and others, Tourneau with 37 boutique locations is one of America's largest...
LLC - Victoria Chouris - South Florida FairSouth Florida FairThe South Florida Fair is an annual fair held in West Palm Beach, Florida, every January or February. The fairgrounds site occupies and is located on the site of the former Palm Beach Speedway at the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Fairground Road. It is set up to make it adjacent to the...
COO
Athletics
PBA is an independent member of the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division II and an independent member of the NCCAA
National Christian College Athletic Association
The National Christian College Athletic Association is an association of approximately 100 Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada which see collegiate sports primarily as an opportunity for Christian fellowship and ministry. The national headquarters...
. Lacrosse competes as a Division II member of the MCLA
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...
in the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference
SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference
The SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference is a lacrosse-only athletic conference affiliated with the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association . The SELC incorporates teams in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and is divided into two divisions,...
. Presently, the "Sailfish" compete in eleven intercollegiate sports including women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's cross country. School colors are navy blue and white. A new athletic campus will have soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball and running trails as well as a new state of the art weight and training room. A new 34000 sq ft (3,158.7 m²) building will be constructed along with various other buildings.
Men's athletic teams
- Baseball (Coached by MLB Hall-Of-Famer Gary CarterGary CarterGary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
) - Basketball http://college-basketball.wikia.com/wiki/Palm_Beach_Atlantic
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Lacrosse
Women's athletic teams
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball